Just so that you don't think I am doing nothing but lounging by the sea and eating olives all day, I will tell you about my morning at the Greek IRS in Kalamata. Going to a government agency in a foreign country is always an experience. Add to that a long hot car ride with a very Greek driver (more on that later). I went to the IRS with my relative Konstantinos who is helping me with the inheritance papers for my Aunt's house. We each know about the same amount of each other's language, so we occasionally comment in Greek on how hot it is and he tries to tell me things by talking very loudly. I nod and smile here a lot. It helps to have the outlook in life that most people are good and have good intentions. So, I smile a lot and they in turn probably think I a m a little dim. Our meeting went well this morning and the official we met with spoke some English and was able to help me translate the forms that I needed to fill out. I now have a tax I.D. number in hand and my paperwork is currently floating around the system as we wait for an inheritance tax estimate. When you inherit property in Greece, you must finish the paperwork and pay the taxes within six months of the person's death or there will be additional fees. So,we are trying to accomplish everything by the 15th of this month.

I hesitate to talk too much about Greek drivers as all countries have their own stereotypes and this beautiful country and people are my current home and family. But, I suppose I could just make some purely unscientific observations... The Greek philosophy on driving seems to be that the other driver, person or animal will get out of the way. Not a lot of forethought is put into whether or not something will be around that windy bend... that is what brakes and car horns are for. Crosswalks are only observed by German tourist drivers and seem to be more decorative than functional. Median lines also adorn the roads quite nicely. On the narrow streets of the village, 40km/hr. signs are posted even though many parts of the road can only handle traffic in one direction. Whereas main roads into the city are marked 50 and no driver seems to travel under 80. So, as you can see, these are just observations... not judgements. See you on the roads!

XOXO,

Karen June